Regular Season Week Five Preview

Chevakata can seal their spot in the Eighth-Finals with a home win against BLMA

After five weeks of action, four spots in the Eighth-Finals of the EuroCup Women have already been taken and a few more look destined to be filled this week.

Chevakata know that victory in their Group A home clash against Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration would book their place in the next round. Their French opponent has already made it through but it will still be difficult for the hosts since Montpellier head into the clash with a first taste of defeat this season in their mouths. For they were beaten in the French league by Group B winners Basket Hainaut last weekend.

Should Chevakata do the business and grab the win they need, it would mean that Satu Mare would entertain SISU 24 hours later knowing their qualification dreams were already over.

The Belgians can in theory at least, still progress by forcing a three-way tie. But, this potential scenario must start with a win in the Turkish capital. Whilst success at TED Ankara may seem unlikely, Young Cats have already produced a winning performance in Grodno.

As for TED Ankara themselves, their fate is not necessarily in their own hands and they will be hoping there is another defeat in Belarus this week for the home team when the already qualified Hainaut travel to Olimpia. A win for Olimpia would put them through, even if TED Ankara are successful, courtesy of having secured the head-to-head against the Turkish team.

Mersin In The Driving Seat In Group C

Group C is beautifully poised with three teams battling it out for the two precious spots in the next phase of the tournament. Mersin look the best placed because they know that a home victory against still winless Belfius Namur would mean a place in the Eighth-Finals, given that Tarbes beat Spartak Noginsk.

The French are just forty minutes away from potential qualification, although they have a seemingly tough task at Spartak Noginsk and the Russia hosts can still progress but they must firstly come out on top against their French visitors.

Dynamo GUVD are on the very edge of progressing in Group D and will secure a slot in the Eighth-Finals if they can take down unbeaten Nantes Reze who are already into the last sixteen after four successive wins.

Even if Dynamo GUVD don't win, they will know that the pressure will be on TSV Wasserburg to ensure they don't fall foul of a potential banana skin when they match-up with struggling BBC Sint-Katelijne-Waver.

Group E is interesting with one team set to miss out. Kayseri Kaski spor will advance if they claim a win in Sweden against Telge Basket, for whom defeat will mean the same 1-2 record as Horizont who aren't playing, but will be undoubtedly the most interested onlooker. Kayseri are likely to continue being powered by Greek veteran star Evanthia Maltsi who is the leading scorer in the competition with over 25 points per game.

Dynamo Kursk breezed through last week with a terrific road win at Adana Botas, although the Turkish team can celebrate joining the Group F winners if they can bounce back with a success at Dunav 8806 Ruse. However, this is by far a foregone conclusion since the Bulgarians almost sprung a surprise in the first meeting between the teams a few weeks ago. But, the hosts will have to stop Courtney Paris who has an unbelievable field goal percentage of 75.8% for the season.

VS Prague need to win at Partizan Galenika to keep their hopes alive in Group G

Thrilling Scenario In Group G

Group G could prove to be the most thrilling and complicated, since all four clubs still have a chance with two games left to play. Only Dynamo Moscow know they can definitely qualify with a win this week and in one of the most mouth-watering match-ups of week five, they go up against Basket Landes.

The French team have caught fire of late, not only beating Dynamo Moscow in their first meeting but they also grabbed that hugely impressive and confidence-boosting road success at Montpellier in the French league last weekend.

Meanwhile VS Prague simply have to win in Belgrade against a Partizan Galenika team who could be vulnerable since after their bright start and two opening wins to the season, they are now staring down the barrel of a possibly fatal three-game losing streak.

Finally in three-team Group H, Antakya are in the driving seat with a 2-0 record, although they are not yet guaranteed to finish in the top two spots with a three-way tie on 2-2 still a possibility. However, clinching a home win against Vilnius Kibirkstis will end any uncertainty and see them sail into the Eighth-Finals.